Christ's Divine Nature

Christ's Divine Nature

Specific Statements of Deity

• Isaiah 9:6 refers to Jesus as "The mighty God, The everlasting Father."
• Isaiah 40:3 connects to John 1:23, identifying Jesus as "the Lord."
• John 1:1states "the Word was God".
• In John 20:28, Thomas calls Jesus "My Lord and my God."
• Romans 9:5, Titus 2:13, Hebrews 1:8, and 1 John 5:20 explicitly call Jesus God.

Titles of Deity

• Immanuel, meaning "God with us," is found in Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23.
• The title "Lord" is a divine title used in multiple passages, including Matt 7:20-21, Luke 2:11, and John 20:28.
• "Son of God" implies equality with God, as understood by the Jews in John 5:18 and 10:33-36.
• "Son of Man" in Daniel 7:13-14 refers to a divine figure with everlasting dominion.
• Jesus is referred to as Yahweh in John 8:28 and 12:36-41; Ephesians 4:7-8 applies Psalm 68:18 to Jesus.

Attributes of Deity

• Eternality is indicated in Micah 5:2 ("from everlasting") and John 8:58 ("Before Abraham was, I am"). Revelation 1:8, 1:17
• Omnipresence is shown in Matthew 28:20 and Ephesians 1:23.
• Omniscience is demonstrated in John 1:48, 18:4, Matthew 9:4, and John 21:17.
• Omnipotence is seen in Philippians 3:21 and Revelation 1:8.

Works of Deity

• Creation is attributed to Jesus in John 1:1-3, Hebrews 1:10, and Colossians 1:16.
• Providence is evident in Colossians 1:17 and Hebrews 1:3.
• Miracles are performed throughout the Gospels.
• Salvation comes through Jesus, as mentioned in Matthew 1:21.
  • Forgiveness of sins: stated in Matthew 9:2, Mark 2:7.
  • Judgement: stated in John 5:22.

Worship of Deity

• Jesus Christ is worshiped in multiple accounts
• Worship of Jesus by the man born blind (John 9:38).
• Worship of Jesus by women at the tomb (Matthew 28:9).
• Worship of Jesus by Thomas (John 20:28).
• Worship of Jesus by the eleven disciples (Matthew 28:16-20).
• Worship of Jesus by all creation (Philippians 2:9-11, Revelation 5:12-13).

Implications of Christ's Deity

• Christ having authority over the lives of all people.
• Christ being worthy of worship.
• Christ has the ability to save.

Christ's Human Nature

Specific References to His Humanity

• Jesus refers to Himself as man (Matthew 4:4).
• Peter calls Jesus a man (Acts 2:22).
• Paul compares Jesus to Adam (Romans 5:15, 17, 19).
• Jesus is the mediator between God and men (1 Timothy 2:5).
• The Word became flesh (John 1:14).

Descriptions of His Birth

• Human generation is stated in Luke 2:7 and Galatians 4:4.
• "Father's" genealogy is in Matthew 1.
• Mother's genealogy is in Luke 3.

Evidences of Humanity

• Human Development: Luke 2:52 - Jesus grew in wisdom and stature; Hebrews 5:8 - Jesus learned obedience.
• Human Limitations:
  • Weariness: shown in John 4:6.
  • Hunger and thirst: expressed in Matthew 4:2 and John 19:28.
  • Sleepiness: seen in Matthew 8:24.
  • Ignorance: shown in Mark 9:21, 11:13, and 13:32.
  • Death: stated in John 19:33.

Implications of Christ's Humanity

• Christ could offer an example of suffering (1 Peter 2:21).
• Christ can empathize with the frailties of humans (Hebrews 2:18, 4:15).

The Hypostatic Union

Key Points

• The nature of the incarnation is a mystery.
• Jesus was simultaneously fully God and fully man.
• Jesus is both the "Word" and "flesh" (John 1:14).
• Jesus is both God's Son and born of woman (Galatians 4:4).

Christological Heresies

1. Docetism: Jesus only appeared human but wasn't physically real.
2. Ebionism: Jesus was only human at birth and achieved deity at baptism.
3. Arianism: Jesus had a beginning, was like God but not God in nature.
4. Apollinarianism: Jesus' human spirit was replaced by divine spirit, making Him not fully human.
5. Nestorianism: Jesus was two persons in one body.
6. Eutychianism: Jesus had one nature which was a combination of human and divine.

Council of Chalcedon (451 AD)

1. Jesus is fully God in every respect.
2. Jesus is fully man in every respect.
3. Jesus is the Son of God before the incarnation.
4. Jesus is the son of Mary through the incarnation.
5. Jesus has two complete natures - divine and human.
6. Jesus is one complete person.

Sinlessness of Christ

Jesus Did Not Sin

• Jesus' own testimony: stated in John 8:46, 15:10.
• Testimony of others: stated in 2 Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 4:15, 7:26, 1 Peter 2:22, 3:18, 1 John 3:5.

Jesus Was Truly Tempted

• By Satan: Matthew 4:1, Mark 1:13, Luke 4:13.
• In real human ways: Luke 22:28, Hebrews 2:18, 4:15.

Theories About Jesus' Ability to Sin

• Peccability: Jesus could sin but didn't.
• Impeccability: Jesus couldn't sin.
  • Focuses on His deity.
  • Typically Calvinist position.
  • Key verse: James 1:13.

Implications of Christ's Sinlessness

• Jesus is the perfect, spotless sacrifice for sin.
• Jesus understands our temptations and can help.

Resurrection of Christ

Theories of the Resurrection

1. Jesus died and rose again

• Natural reading of the story.
• Historic Christian position.
• Denial must be based on a priori rejection of the divine.

2. Jesus did not die and did not rise

• Resurrection is a myth.
• Resurrection was a ruse.
• Jesus was crucified but didn't really die.

3. Jesus died and did not rise

• Disciples were hallucinating.
• Body was stolen.
• Resurrection is a deliberate deception.

Witnesses to the Resurrection

1. Mary Magdalene (John 20:14-16)
2. Other women (Matthew 28:8-10)
3. Peter (Luke 24:34, 1 Corinthians 15:5)
4. Emmaus disciples (Luke 24:13-31, Mark 16:12-13)
5. Groups of eleven disciples (Multiple accounts in all Gospels)
6. Five hundred believers (1 Corinthians 15:6)
7. Stephen (Acts 7:56)
8. Paul (1 Corinthians 15:8)

Evidence for the Resurrection

1. Eyewitness accounts have authentic tone
2. Empty grave/disappearance of the body
3. Dramatic transformation of the disciples
4. The existence of the church
5. Change of worship from Saturday to Sunday

Implications of Jesus' Resurrection

1. Proves Jesus is both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36)
2. Gives hope of resurrection from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:20-22)
3. Gives power for victory over sin (Romans 8:11-12, Ephesians 1:19-20)

Textbook (Enns Ch. 20) Key Points

• "Before Abraham I am" is a significant claim to deity, using divine name from Exodus 3:14.
• The verb tense in John 1:1, "was" (ἦv), indicates continuous existence.
• "Shiloh" as Messianic promise - Genesis 49:10 prophecy about coming of Messiah.
• There are two genealogies, Matthew (legal/royal through Joseph) and Luke (biological through Mary).
• 1 John is a New Testament epistle addressing denial of Jesus' humanity and combats docetism.
• The purpose of the virgin birth is to preserve Jesus' deity while allowing true humanity.
• C.S. Lewis' trilemma: claims that Jesus is either "Lord, Liar, or Lunatic" concerning Christ's deity.
• The significance of "Son of God" is a divine title indicating equality with God.
• The Kenosis passage in Philippians 2:5-11 refers to Christ's voluntary limitation, not emptying of deity.
• Approximately 25% of the Gospels are Jesus' direct words.